Artwork
Portrait of (possibly) Anna Codde, wife of Pieter Gerritsz Bicker
Portrait of (possibly) Anna Codde, wife of Pieter Gerritsz Bicker is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Maarten van Heemskerck. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1529, this oil portrait presents a woman seated in a modest interior, rendered with the precise observation characteristic of the Northern Renaissance. The figure is dressed in a dark gown with a white head covering, holding a letter while her other hand rests on a nearby spinning wheel. A faint light source illuminates her face and hands, set against a subdued backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is identified as Anna Pietersdr. Codde, the spouse of merchant Pieter Gerritsz Bicker. Elements such as the spinning wheel and the letter may allude to domestic responsibilities and literacy, suggesting a portrayal of a respectable, literate woman engaged in household duties.
Technique & Style
The work reflects the influence of Italianate training absorbed by the artist, evident in the subtle modeling of flesh through light and shadow. A restrained palette and careful attention to texture convey material qualities, while the contrast between illuminated features and the dark surroundings demonstrates a chiaroscuro approach typical of early 16th‑century Dutch portraiture.
History & Provenance
Painted by Maarten van Heemskerck, a Haarlem painter who studied under Jan van Scorel, the portrait entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection where it remains on display. Its attribution to Heemskerck is based on stylistic parallels with his other early works and documented commissions for the Bicker family.
Artist & collection
Artist
Maarten van Heemskerck (born Maerten Jacobsz van Veen; 1 June 1498 – 1 October 1574), also known as Marten Jacobsz Heemskerk van Veen, was a Dutch portrait and religious painter, who spent most of his career in Haarlem.
